Double sliding-door cabinet



June 10, 1941. H. DERMAN DOUBLE SLIDING-DOOR CABINET Filed Jan. 3, 1939 INVENTOR HARRY DER/WAN Y ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE siififlififitmffii. Y. Application January 3, 1939, Serial No. 248,933

2Claims.

This invention relates to knockdown cabinets, closets, wardrobes or the like, and particularly in the provision of a double sliding-door construction controlling the front open end of the cabinet so as to gain access to both the upper and lower portions of the cabinet, and the object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of the character described composed of substantially similar top and bottom wall parts, a back and side wall part including integral front wall flanges and two sliding door parts wherein the front wall flanges include groove-forming strips attached thereto forming guide channels for receiving the side edges of the doors in the sliding movement thereof in the cabinet; 9. further object being to provide a cabinet of the class described, upper and lower ends of the sliding doors of which are provided with reinforcing strips to stiffen said door ends, and wherein the upper end of the lower door overlaps the lower end of the upper door when both doors are in closed position; a further object being-to provide a door structure wherein access to the bottom of the cabinet may be obtained without opening the upper portion of the cabinet and in like manner where access may be obtained to the upper portion of the cabinet without exposing the lower portion thereof so as to provide for the storage of garments in the upper portion of the cabinet and the storage of other articles in the lower portion thereof; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a cabinet of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, eflicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the several parts of my invention are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

the front portion f the cabinet and illustrating another adaptatio of the invention.

The cabinet as disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive comprises two similar top and bottom wall parts l0, "la, a back and side wall part II, a top door part II, and a bottom door part I3. Both top and bottom wall parts consist of rectangular wood frames 14 to outer surfaces of which are secured a flat fibre board sheet ii. The only diiference between the top part it and the bottom part Illa is that one portion it of a catch device is secured to the front part of the frame I to receive another part ll of the catch device which is arranged upon the outer surface of a top reinforcing strip I8 on the door part l2.

The part Ii comprises a back wall Ila, side walls lib including inturned front flanges lie, which form front wall portions giving strength and rigidity to the front corner portions of the cabinet and forming the sides of the door opening which is also bounded by the top and bottom walls It, Illa. Secured to the free ends of the flanges lic are grooved door guiding strips i9 having channels 2|! in which both doors l2, ii are free to slide side by side in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the door I! is disposed innermost in the grooves 20 so that the bottom door I! slides upwardly over the top door l2. The strip i8 is arranged upon the outer surface of the door I! to engage the frame H with the upper edge i2a of the door l2 protruding slightly above the upper Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1. K

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the back and side wall part of the cabinet showing the same in a partially folded position before assemblage.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view similar to that shown in Fig. 3 showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing another modification, and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing only surface of the strip l8 to effect a better seal. A thin reinforcing'strip I2!) is secured to the inner surface of the lower edge of the door I! to stiffen and reinforce the same. A reinforcing and fluishing strip as well as finger piece strip 21 is secured to the outer surface of the upper end of the door i3. By means of this strip the door l3 may be raised and lowered, the upward movement of the door i3 being limited by the engagement of the strip 2| with the strip i8. as will be apparent. Another reinforcing strip lid is secured to the inner surface of the lower end of the door I3 and'is similar to the strip Hi). It will also be understood that the strip 2| acts as a stop limiting the downward movement of the upper door l2 by the engagement of the strip l8 therewith. The strips 2| and iZb are arranged in common alinement when both doors are in closed position, thus overlapping the adjacent ends of the doors I2, It in providing a strong reinforcement centrally of the door opening, with a cabinet of the type and kind under consideration.

It will be apparent that various garments may be readily inserted and removed through the upper portion of the cabinet when the door it, is in lowered position and may be suspended from suitable hanging means as indicated at 22. The latter is of conventional construction and requires no specific explanation or consideration in this case, except to state that the hang er unit is detachable with respect to the upper edge of the side walls lib in the collapsing of th s cabinet. On the other hand, when it is desire l to insert or remove shoes or other articles at the lower portion of the cabinet, the door i2 may be re. tained in its closed position and the door it simply moved upwardly to gain access to the lower portion of the cabinet.

It will be apparent that in assembling the cabinet, the part it is first arranged upon the part Mia after which the doors 5?, iii are sealed into position. Then the part it is arranged in position after the hanger unit 22 has been attached. With the present construction it will appear that a strong door frame construction. is formed between the rails 09 and the front wood strips of the frame it of the top and bottom parts Ed, Edd. On the other hand, no fixed or preassembled frame unit is provided.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing is shown another adaptation of the invention wherein a substantially L-shaped strip its is substituted for the strip ill?) and a groove or channel Eda is formed between the strip 59a and the flange lie of the cabinet.

In Fig. 6 or" the drawing another form of construction is disclosed wherein a fibre board or corrugated board strip lib is arranged upon the inner surface of the flange lie, in such manner as to form a groove or channel 2% between the free edge of the strip i-ilb and the free edge of the flange Me. In both structures shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the two doors will slidably engage the grooves 2841, Nb as will be apparent.

In Fig, 7 of the drawing, Ihave shown a modifled form of construction wherein a bottoin wall 2-3 is substituted for the bottom Ida and differs therefrom in the elimination of the frame it and in including upwardly extending peripheral flanges 2 3 which would be equivalent to the frame par-ts it, and the front flange Eda is extended to form a partial front wall, the upper edge of which is reinforced by a strip 25. With this con struotlon, the bottom door it or the lower end portion thereof will be overlapped by the front wall portion E ia. The latter simply provides an upwardly extending rail which will retain articles against accidental displacement from the lower portion of the cabinet and will also provide a different finish to thelower portion of the cabinet. With this construction, the lower ends of the outer surfaces of the rails 99 will terminate at the strip 25.

It will be understood that the doors or closures i 2, l3 are preferably composed of rigid material. However, in some installations, the upper door may be composed of a single-faced corrugated sheet in accordance with the teachings in my prior Patent No. 2,070,924, dated Feb.

aaaaero Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A knockdown cabinet of the class described comprising a unitary back and side wall part, top and bottom wall parts arranged upon and secured to the first named part in forming an elongated cabinet, means at the forward edges of the side walls of the first named part forming single guide channels extending the full height of the cabinet, the top wall part including a downwardly projecting front wall flange overlying the upper ends of said channels, upper and lower door panels slidably mounted in the single guide channels, the inner surf-ace of the lower door being disposed directly upon the outer surface of the upper door, a reinforcing rail arranged upon the outer surface of the upper end portion of each door, interengaging means between the rail of the upper door and the flange of the top wall for supporting the upper door in raised position, means on the inner surface of the lower end portion of each door for reinforcing the same, the last named means of the top door being arranged inwardly of and spaced from the reinforcing rail at the upper end of the bottom door when both doors are in closed position, the rail of the lower door being disposed substantially midway of the cabinet when the lower door is in closed position and forming a finger piece facilitating convenient raising and. lowering of the lower door, and the upper edge of the top door proper protruding upwardly within the front flange of the top wall of the cabinet when the upper door is in closed position.

2. A knockdown cabinet of the class described comprising top and bottom parts, a cacl: and side wall part including front wall portions and two door parts, all of said parts pomprising paper board reinforced at edge portions thereof, the front wall portions of the second named part comprising flanges foldable with respect to the side walls forming front wall f-acings at opposite sides of a door opening arranged therebetween, means on each of said flanges and arranged longitudinally thereof forming door guiding channels extending throughout the full height of the front of the cabinet, said door parts comprising top and bottom door members slidably engaging said channels, the upper end of each door memher having a reinforcing strip arranged upon the outer surface thereof and the lower end of each door member having a reinforcing strip on the inner surface thereof, the upper end of the lower door member overlying the lower end of the upper door member when both door members are in closed position, maintaining constant engagement between adjacent surf-aces of the door members in all positions thereof, the strip upon the upper end of the lower door member forming a finger piece by which the lower door may be raised to give access to the lower portion of the cabinet, and means for supporting the upper door member in raised position.

HARRY DERMAN. 

